Over the years, Paizo has released a number of useful and flavorful alchemical items, ranging from the humble alchemist's fire to the flashy bottled sunlight.
However, the same is true of spells, starting with the wizard's handgun, magic missile, and literally going beyond reality in terms of limits.
The difference between them is that magic, in the form of potions, scrolls, and wands, has a set price formula. Alchemical items don't follow the same notion, their prices assigned by whatever the creator feels is appropriate.
Unfortunately, this means that some alchemical items just aren't able to match up in terms of opportunity cost.
"But wait," you may ask "don't alchemical items pay for themselves in anti-magic areas?" To which I reply "If you're in an anti-magic area, you're far out of the depths that alchemical items can save you from."
But, that's not to say alchemical items are just the poor mans magic option (despite magic often being cheaper by comparison).
So what are some alchemical items that retain parity against spells?
As an example, I'm quite fond of sunlight rods, they're dirt cheap for an adventurer, aren't subject to being blown out or accidentally going off when you drop them in a puddle, and provide more light than a standard torch. One thing I like to do is make a sunstone, with GM permission, and stick it in a hooded or bullseye lantern.
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Ascalaphus made a guide a while back on this. While there's been a few items added since it still covers many of the highlights.